Storrs — His impressive 24-year coaching career has taken him to some of the highest peaks on the NFL and college football levels.

Lou Spanos was on the Pittsburgh's staff for 15 seasons when the Steelers made three Super Bowl appearances, earning two rings. He's helped develop numerous NFL players into all-pros, making other professional stops in Washington (2010-11) and Tennessee (2014-17), working as a linebackers coach.

He spent two seasons at UCLA (2012-13), which went to bowl games both times during his tenure as defensive coordinator. Last season, he was a defensive analyst at college football power Alabama.

He's served under Nick Saban (Alabama), Jim Mora (UCLA), Mike Shanahan (Redskins) and Bill Cowher (Steelers).

So what attracted Spanos to his new job as defensive coordinator at UConn?

"It's a great opportunity and I've known coach (Randy) Edsall for years," Spanos said after Thursday's spring workout inside the Burton Family Football Complex. "And everyone loves challenges. This is a great challenge."

No doubt about that.

UConn set NCAA records for most points allowed, most points allowed per game, most yards allowed and most yards allowed per game last season.

When asked if his team will be better this fall than last season, Edsall responded: "Can't get any worse, can it? So it will be better."

Edsall added this about the defense: "I've just turned the page and moved on. Whatever happened last year happened. This is 2019 now. That's the only thing that concerns me."

Since the Huskies finished with a dismal 1-11 record, Edsall's had some turnover on his coaching staff. Frank Giufre was promoted to offensive coordinator, replacing John Dunn who left after one season to become the tight ends coach for the New York Jets. Edsall fired defensive coordinator Billy Crocker, a Waterford native, and hired Spanos in mid-January.

Spanos, 47, is keeping his focus on the present, not the past.

"What I do is focus on the now, what they're doing in spring," Spanos said. "We've been stressing this is 2019. We have a clean slate, myself, the players and go from there."

Just five workouts into the spring, the Huskies already are embracing their new defensive coordinator's style.

"He has a lot of experience being in the NFL 20-plus years," sophomore linebacker Kevon Jones said. "Great personality. You can learn a lot from him. Very passionate about the game. He tries to make sure every little detail is perfected in the classroom and on the field. He takes his time with us.

"He loves the game of football."

Edsall became convinced that Spanos was the right hire following an in-person interview. He also received glowing recommendations from several people.

"I said this is a guy that I think we need to have here," Edsall said.

Spanos, who served as center for future NFL quarterback Gus Frerotte during his playing days at Tulsa, has jumped right into the job. His enthusiasm and energy make him easy to spot on the practice field.

Players are responding to his direction.

"I don't know what they did the last couple of years, all I know is the kids are putting in effort with what our coaching staff is stressing," Spanos said. "They're getting a little more vocal and they're communicating better. They're talking a lot and making sure everyone is executing their assignments. They're flying around and trying to have some fun."

Edsall is happy with both new coordinators.

"Both are doing a really good job of teaching what we want to get done," Edsall said. "The kids are responding. We're getting in the things that we want to get in. We're really focusing on fundamentals and the techniques and then all the base stuff that we want to do. I've been pleased so far.

"Offensively, there's really not a change. Frank is doing a good job of motivating those guys and having everybody on the same page. You can see things picking up. Then Lou is doing a good job of installing things that we want to do on defense."

g.keefe@theday.com